Continuous automatic cleaning and plating machine



June 24, 1930.

C. G. MILLER AL CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC CLEANING AND PLATINGM ACHINE Fiied July 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet w a m m MM I Wu June 24, 1930.. j A c. G; MILLER Er AL 1.767353 coNTINu oUs AUTOMATIC CLEANING AND, PLATING MACHINE I Filed July 3, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 O O 0 '0 0 O O O O O 9 0 O 9 O D [EVELEIIEES I 00 752 m 41%! er June 24, 1930. I c. G. MILLER ET AL 1 7672.53

CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC CLEANING AND PLATING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1926 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 J1me 3 c. G; MILLER ET AL,

' CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC CLEANING AND PLATlNG MACHINE Filed July 3, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet- 4 -I 4 Maw/1w Jufi 24, 1930. (3. cs; N IlL-LER ET AL. 1,767,253

4 CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC C EANING AND PLATING MACHINE Fiied July 5, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 5' June 24, I930. I c G. MILLER ET-AL 1,767,253

con'rmuous AUTOMATIC CLEANING AND PLATING MACHINE Fild July 3, 1926-" v 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented June. 24, 19.30 i

. UNITED STA TES.

PATENT oFF-icE OONSTANTINE G; MILLER AND CHARLES FIRAIWKILIIV CLEVELAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLI- NOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE MEAKER 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC CLEANING AND PLATING MACHINE Application filed July 3, 1926. Serial No. 120,31

This invention relates td a continuously operating automatlc electroplating apparatus embodying the necessary preliminary and 1ntermediate cleaning operations between success'ive platingoperations.

- It is an object of this invention to provide .animproved electroplating apparatus wherein the complete series of operations, aside from bufling is automatically performed including the transfer of the article from one tank to another. For example, in plating steel articles, the customary procedure is to first dip them into a cleaning solution, theninto an acid solution, a rinsing tank, a striking tank, another rinsing tank, a copper plating solution and a final rinse. If no buffing operation is necessary after copper plating and before nickel plating, the entire series of operations can be automatically performed in one machine, the lengths of the plating tanks. determining the plating period and the current density being separately variable I for each plating tank to obtain the best results Y with thematerial to be deposited It is a particular object of this invention to I provide an improved transfer mechanism for lifting articles out of one tank and lowering theminto another tank; in the case of plating tanks the plating circuit being broken the 3 cle and/or maintained interrupted, until'the article is'entirely immersed in the solution in' vention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section corresponding to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross section thereof taken on the line III-III of Figure 2.

instant the mechanism starts to lift the arti- Other and further important objects of this machine embodying the features of this in- Figure 4-is a fragmentary top plan view of the driving end of the machine. I Figure 5 is a fragmentary section on the, line V'V of Figure 2 showing the lower or hor zontal operating part of the conveyor. Figure 6 is a section on the line VI-VI of F igure 2 showing the overhead return of the conveyor.-

Figure 7 is a section through the conveyor on the discharge orright hand side of Figure l 2, as shown by the section line VII'-'VII. I Figure 8 is. a section through the vertical conveyor on the left hand or loading side of I F igure 2, as shown-by the section line VIII VIII. I 5 Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary-detail of the double chain engagement of Figure 8. ,Figure 10 is a detail sectionof one of the devices for transferring articles. between tanks taken on the line XX of Figure 3., Figure 11 is a section'on' the line XI-XI of Figure 10. Figure 12 is a modified form of cam for the mechanism of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary section on the line XIIIXIII,0f F igure 12.

Figure 14 is a' fragmentary detail of the vertical guide of Figure 10 taken on the line XIV-:XIV of Figure 3. Figure 15 is a-section on the line XV- XV of Figure 14. I As shown on the drawings: i

' A series of rinsing, cleaning and elec't-roplating tanks-havebeen referred to in the drawings by the generic reference numeral 20, suitable end and intermediate partitions, 21 being also indicated in Figures 3 and 5.

'As the particular order of arrangement and. number of tanks will vary with different plating methods, it has, been considered un- 00 necessary to specifically show a complete se- 1 ries." As an illustration, one particular apparatus embodying this invention and. including both copper and nickel plating operations is over one hundred feet long and hasten compartments. v I

These tanks are supported on suitable framework 22, the uprights 23 of which extend above the tank. to form supports for a pair of endless chains 24 which pass to the 100 right in Figures 1. and 2, just above the top of the tanks and return overhead. T-he particular form of the framework is immaterial from the standpoint of patentability and so need not be described in detail. comprise a number ofplain links with hook links 26 spaced at even intervals, the chainpassing over four toothed sprockets 27 at each corner of the framework, these sprockets being undercut at 28 between the teeth to provide room for the-chain hook links 26and a. series of bars 29 carried along by the hooks on the chain.

These bars are retained in place during the upward movement of the chains at the right hand end of the machine by means of the.

guide bars 30 on the'framework, which press on collars 31 on the bars to hold them against the chains. On the left or downwardly moving side of the conveyor, a second pair of chains 32 having hooks 33'operates in parallel with the main chains 24 to hold the bars up against the'hooks 26 during the downward movement where'the bars would otherwise drop free from the hooks.

. On the chain tracks 34 oneither' side of the plating tanks, bus bars'35 are provided to contact square shoes 36 on the bars to feed the heavy current required to the bars from which the articles are hung to form the oathodes of the plating circuit. As different plating-materia ls require different current densities oramperage rates for most eflic'ientplating, the chains and framework are preferably so insulated that each platingtank busbar.

can be fed from independent circuits to mit independent regulation- On either'side of the row of tanks at each partition 21 is located a transfer mechanism shown in Figure 10 and adapted to lift the bars 29 up from the chain so that the articles hanging therefrom will be lifted clear of one tank, carried over the partition and lowered into the next tank. This mechanism com-.

prises a vertical outer guide 37 for the shoe 38 carrying a pin 39 reciprocated upiand down. the guide by means of a connecting rod 40 and crank 41 carried by the shaft-.42 which is driven in predetermined relation to the speed of the chain sprockets (27) in order that the transfer mechanism may complete one cycle while the chain is advancing a prede-- termined distance between hook links 26. The pin 39 carries a lever 43, the lower end 44 of p which is provided with a roller 45 engaged in (the groove 46 in a cam plate 47 The upper offree end 48 of the lever 43 is forked to pick up a bar from the. chain,and the groove'is so formed as to cause this forked end to traverse a' path indicated by successive dotted line positions indicated in Figure 10 by the letters A, B, C, D and E,- .the roller 45 traveling counter'-clockwise in the cam groove 46. This result is obtained by offsetting the upper (49) and lower (50) peaks of the groove to tip the The chains 24 free end 48 of the lever over to theside op posite the peak offset from the center line, the

overhanging weight of the free end and the bar carried thereby assisting in carrying the rollers 45 past the upper peak or dead center position 49. I

The modification shown in Figures 12 and i 13 comprises a two piece plate cam 51 and 52 positioned by brackets 53. The guided end of the lever 43 is then formed with a pilot 54 projecting through the slot between the two. cam pieces and is held in a cap screw 56.

place by a washer 55 and In the operation of this machine, the articles to be plated are hung from the bars at the left side of Figures 1 and 2, which forms the loading position, and after passing through the series of tanks at a uniform speed, areremoved from the bars at the right hand or unloading position.

We are aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and we therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than- ,necessitated by the prior art.

:We claim as our invention 1. A conveyor system comprising a'pair of {the first pair of chains during the vertical downward movement thereof.

2. A conveyor system comprising a pair of spaced parallel endless chains, hanger-bars propelledfby said chains at fixed intervals .therein, sprockets for said chains having cutout portions to receive the ends of said bars,

pairs of forked end levers mounted at intervals along the pathway of the conveyor chains, and coacting means adapted to cause saidlevers to lift and transfer said hanger bars over obstructions adjacent said chains.

3. A conveyor system comprising a pair of conveyors positioned .in parallel arrangement withan overhead return, portions of the overhead return being vertical," dogs carried at spaced intervals on said conveyors, hanger bars advanced by said dogs, and means movable with said dogs for maintaining said hanger bars in contact with the dogs on the vertical'return portions of the conveyors.

4. A conveyor system comprising a pair of conveyors positioned in parallel arrangement with an overhead return, dogs carried at spaced intervals on said conveyors, hanger bars advanced by said dogs,-and a second. pair of vertical conveyors positioned adjacent the downward return portion of the first mentioned conveyors and adap d to hold said bars advanced, bysaid dogs, pairs of cent said conveyors,

5. A conveyor system comprising a pair'of with an overhead return,v dogs carried at spaced intervals .on said conveyors, hanger forked end levers mounted at intervals along the conveyors and coacting 'crossheads andcams subscribed our adapted to cause said leyersto lift and transfer said hanger bars over-obstructionsadja- J a pair of 6. A conveyor system comprising conveyors positioned in parallel arrangement .with an overhead return, dogs carried atv spaced intervals on said conveyors, hanger bars advanced by said dogs,.m eans maintam- 1ng said hanger ars contactwith the dogs to lift and shift said means adap hanger with diametrically opposed peak portions, a

transfer arm having a roller at its lower end positioned in said 'ove, a connecting rod pivconveyors positionedinparallelarrangement .oted tosaid trans er arm, and means for re- In testimony whereof we have hereunto names.

CONSTANTINE G. MILLER.

- on the return portions of'the' conveyors, and

20 a a v I bars relative to the conveyors.

conveyors positioned in para el arrangement with an overhead return, dogs carried vat 'spacedintervals on said conveyors, hanger 7 bars advanced b said dogs, means ma1nta1ning saidhanger ars 'incontact with theidog s on the return portions of the conveyors, pairs A i of forked end levers mountedat intervals along the conveyors and coacting crossheads and cams adapted to cause said levers to lift tions-adjacent said conveyors.

and "transfer said hanger bars 8. A conveyor system comprising a pair of conveyors positioned in parallel arrangement with an overhead return, dogs carried at spaced intervals on said conveyors, hanger I bars advanced by said dogs, a second pair of vertical conveyors positioned adjacent the downward return portion of the first men- 'tioned conveyors and adapted to hold said bars a ainst the first pair of "conveyors, pairs of for ed end levers mountedat intervals along the conveyors andcoacting crossheads and cams adapted-to cause said levers to lift and transfer said hanger bars ove'r'obstructions adjacent said conveyors.

9. A transfer m'echanism" comprising a over obstrucfixed cam plate having a groove, a transfer .arm provided at its lowerend with a roller positioned in said groove, a connecting rod pivoted to said transfer arm, and means for reciprocating the to move said arm.

10. A transfer mechanism comprising a fixed cam plate'having a cam groove, a transfer arm having a roller at its lower end sitioned in said groove, a vertical guide f2:- ing said cam p'late, 'a connecting rod pivoted to said transfer arm by means of a pivot in,

7 said pivot pin carrying a shoepositione in said vertical said shoe. r

11. A transfer mechanism, comprisin a fixed cam plate having a groove provi ed guide, and means to reciprocate pivot ofsaid arm and rod l 

